Tie rack



Sept. 5, 1967 A. GlNSBERG TIE RACK B I WW ATTORNFY Filed June 1, 1966 QR Mm United States Patent 3,339,744 TIE RACK Arthur Ginsberg, Roosevelt, N.Y., assignor to Royal London, Ltd., New York, NY, a corporation of New York Filed June 1, 1966, Ser. No. 554,404 Claims. (Cl. 211-) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A necktie rack comprising a casing adapted to be mounted horizontally, a plurality of shafts depending from the casing tie display heads carried by each shaft, each head including tie holding bars extending radially from a hub, a gear on each shaft in the casing, a horizontal shaft in the casing having a worm engaging each gear, a battery driven motor in the casing and push button means for energizing the motor to rotate the hub and hence the tie holding hooks.

This invention relates to a tie rack, and more particularly to a device for displaying a plurality of ties including means for selectively rotating the tie displaying head for sequentially exposing each individual tie.

It is an object of the instant invention to provide a new and novel tie rack having a tie displaying head rotatably mounted by a vertical axis carrying a plurality of horizontally extending tie supporting bars for carrying a plurality of ties which may be sequentially exposed by rotating the tie displaying head.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a tie rack of the character described including power means for selectively rotating the tie displaying head to expose the ties thereon for selection by an individual.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a tie rack which may be inexpensively manufactured for carrying a large number of ties.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a tie rack having means for attaching the rack to a substantially vertical wall with the tie displaying heads being spaced from the wall to accommodate the rotary movement of the horizontallyextending tie supporting bars. I

A still further object of the instant invention is to provide a tie rack of the character described including a housing encapsulating the selectively operable power means utilized to rotate the tie displaying head.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction andoperation, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawing wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a tie rack made in accordance with the principles of the instant invention, certain parts being broken away for clarity of illustrations;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the tie rack of FIGURE 1, certain parts being broken away to illustrate the interior mechanisms of the device;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the 'tie rack of FIGURES 1 and 2, taken substantially along line 33 of FIGURE 2 as viewed in the direction h1- dicated by the arrows; and I FIGURE 4 is a schematic view ofthe electrical circuit used to energize the electric motor that is operatively connected to the tie displaying head for sequentially exposing the individual ties.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein like reference characters designate like elements throughout 3,339,744 Patented Sept. 5, 1967 lCC the several views thereof, there is indicated generally at 10 the tie rack of the instant invention comprised of a frame shown generally at 12 afiixed to a substantially vertical wall 14, a plurality of tie displaying heads denominated generally at 16 mounted on frame 12 for rotation about a vertical axis and a power supplying means designated generally at 18 for selectively rotating tie displaying heads 16 about the vertical axis. As will be explained more fully hereinafter, a plurality of ties may be placed on each of heads 16 such that an individual may selectively operate power means 18 for sequentially exposing each of the mounted ties.

Frame 12 includes a front and back wall 20, 22 joined together by a pair of end walls 24, 26 and a top wall 28. A pair of legs 30, 32 extend rearwardly in a substantially planar fashion with respect to end walls 24, 26 and form laterally extending feet 34, 36 having openings 38, 40 through which a suitable frictional fastener 42, illustrated as a nail, passes for engagement with wall 14. A bottom wall 44 completes frame 12 and provides a compartment receiving power means 18 thereby presenting a neat and trim appearance. Bottom wall 44 is preferably releasably secured to the remainder of frame 12 by a plurality of conventional fasteners 46, illustrated as screws or the like, extending into a threaded block 48 in the compartment formed by housing 12.

It should be apparent that housing 12 is opened from the bottom by removing bottom wall 44 to gain access to power means 18. Frame 12 also forms a battery receiving compartment 50 having an openable top wall 52 removably mounted on frame 12 to gain access into compartment 50 to replace batteries 54 therein. As an additional feature, front wall 20 of frame 12 is preferably provided with a lamina 56 on which a color chart is printed to correlate the desirable color of accessories to wear with differently colored suits.

Each of tie displaying heads 16 includes a horizontal annular plate 58 and a central upstanding boss 60 cooperating to form a blind opening 62 for purposes of lessening the weight of head 16. A shaft 64 is afiixed to the upper surface of boss 60 and extends through bottom wall 44 into the interior of frame 12. A suitable boss 66 is afiixed to shaft 64 interiorly of frame 12 to mount head 16 for rotation about the vertical axis of shaft 64. A plurality of tie supporting bars shown generally at 68 extend outwardly from the periphery of plate 58 and include a substantially horizontal tie supporting portion 70 and a terminal upstanding portion 72 acting to preclude slippage of a tie off the end of horizontal portion 70.

As previously mentioned, power means 18 is operatively connected to each of tie displaying heads 16 for rotating each of heads 16 about a vertical axis. Power means 18 includes a spur gear 74 affixed to shaft 64 for rotation therewith and a Worm gear 76 meshingly engaged with each of spur gears 74. Each of spur gears 74 is fixedly mounted on a single drive shaft 78 journaled by a plurality of bearings shown generally at 80. Each of bearings 80 includes an L-shaped arm 82 having the horizontal leg affixed to bottom wall 44 by a suitable frictional fastener 84. The upstanding portion of L-shaped arm 82 forms an opening rotatably receiving drive shaft 78.

An electric motor 86 is aflixed to bottom wall 44, as by glue or the like, and is operatively connected with the drive shaft 78 by a gear train shown generally at 88. Electric motor 86 includes a customary drive shaft carrying a spur gear for driving gear train 88 which terminates in a spur gear 90 fixedly mounted on drive shaft 78. It will be readily apparent that the energization of electric motor 86 drives gear train 88 and consequently drive shaft 78 to rotate each of tie displaying heads 16.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, an electric circuit shown generally at 92 is arranged to selectively deliver electrical 3 energy to motor 86 thereby selectively rotating each of display heads 16. Electric circuit 92 includes batteries 54, which are illustrated as conventional flashlight batteries, but which may be of any suitable type, disposed in compartment 50. A first battery contact 94 is positioned against the terminus of one of batteries 54 and includes a connection '96 extending through the wall of compartment 50. A lead wire 98 provides electrical communication from connection 96 to a first switch terminal 100. A second switch terminal 102 is disposed slightly away from first terminal 100 with a normally open switch shown generally at 104 arranged to complete an electrical path between terminals 100, 102 upon the actuation of the switch.

Switch 102 includes an electrically conductive strip 106 affixed to a dielectric plate 108 mounted for movement between a pair of guides 110. Switch 104 includes a push-to-close button 112 extending outwardly of frame 12 through a suitable opening. The conventional separating spring 114 biases plate 108 away from a dielectric plate 116 to which terminals 100, 102 are attached. As will be more fully explained hereinafter, the depression of button 112 acts to close circuit 92 thereby delivering electrical energy to motor 86 to drive display heads 16.

A suitable lead wire 118 connects terminal 102 to one side of motor 86 as shown best in FIGURE 2. Another lead wire 120 connects the other side of motor 86 to an electrical connection 122 extending through the side wall of battery compartment 50 to place the other of batteries 54 into electrical contact with wire 120.

It will be apparent that the depression of button 112 closes circuit 92 to deliver electrical energy to motor 86. The actuation of motor 86 drives gear train 88 resulting in the rotation of drive shaft 78 and worm gear 76. The rotation of worm gear 76 drives gear 74 and consequently rotates each of display heads 16 in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 1. It is preferred that each of the heads rotate in the same direction to avoid physical contact between the ties on supporting bars 68 which may tend to swing somewhat. It should be noted that supporting legs 30*, 32 affixing frame 12 to vertical wall 14 are of a sufficient length to allow the free rotation of tie supporting bars 68.

It should be readily apparent that tie rack may advantageously be used as a display in stores as well as providing a novelty device for use in a home.

It is now seen that there is herein provided an improved tie rack which accomplishes all of the objects and advantages of the instant invention and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of the instant inventive concept, and since many modifications may be made in the embodiments hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that the foregoing is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim: 1. A rack for displaying ties comprising a frame including a casing; at least one tie displaying head, dependin-gly mounted on the frame for rotation about a vertical axis, having a plurality of tie supporting bars extending outwardly from the head substantially in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the outermost end of the supporting bars extending upwardly preventing slippage from the bars; means for attaching the frame to a substantially vertical wall for positioning the axis of rotation substantially parallel to the wall including at least one leg extending away from the frame a distance sufiicient to prevent interference between the wall and the tie supporting bars;

battery driven motor means, in the casing, for selectively drivingly rotating the tie displaying head for sequentially exposing the tie supporting bars on one side of the frame, and

switch means for selectively energizing and deenergizing said motor.

2. A rack for displaying ties comprising a frame;

at least one tie displaying head, dependingly mounted on the frame for rotation about a vertical axis, having a plurality of tie supporting bars extending outwardly from the head substantially in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the outermost end of the supporting bars extending upwardly preventing slippage from the bars;

means for attaching the frame to a substantially vertical wall for positioning the axis of rotation substantially parallel to the wall including at least one leg extending away from the frame a distance sufficient to prevent interference between the wall and the tie supporting bars; and

means, on the frame, for selectively drivingly rotating the tie displaying head for sequentially exposing the tie supporting bars on one side of the frame,

a shaft integral with the tie displaying head;

a gear on the shaft for rotation therewith;

a worm gear meshingly engaged with the spur gear;

an electric motor on the frame; and

means drivingly connecting the worm gear and the electric motor for rotating the tie displaying head upon actuation of the electric motor.

3. The rack of claim 2 further including a housing encapsulating the rotating means.

4. The rack of claim 3 further including a lamina on the housing away from the attaching means carrying indicia correlating the color of mens suits with the de sired colors of accessories to be worn with the suit.

5. The rack of claim 3 wherein there are at least three aligned tie displaying heads spaced apart to prevent in terference between the tie supporting bars.

6. The rack of claim 4 wherein the rotating means r0 tates all of the heads in the same direction.

7. The rack of claim 2 wherein the driving means in cludes a DC motor and wherein the rotating means further includes at least one removable DC battery on the frame;

an electric circuit connecting the battery to the motor;

and

an off-on switch in the circuit for selectively opening and closing the electric circuit for selectively energiz' ing the motor.

8. The rack of claim 7 wherein the switch includes a spring normally biasing the switch into the circuit open position and a push-to-operate button for selectively closing the circuit.

9. The rack of claim 8 further including a housing, enclosing the rotating means, having an opening through which the operating button extends.

10. The rack of claim 9 wherein the housing forms a battery compartment an an openable lid closing the compartment providing ready ingress to replace the battery.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,637,988 8/1927 Egan 4033 2,010,572 8/1935 Waterman 2l195 2,506,467 5/ 1950 Ragland 211 2,640,601 6/1953 Van Wie 2llll5 2,736,628 2/1956 Fadden 3 l2305 ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

W-, 9-. LQULAN, A ti tQltt Examiner. 

1. A RACK FOR DISPLAYING TIES COMPRISING A FRAME INCLUDING A CASING; AT LEAST ONE TIE DISPLAYING HEAD, DEPENDINGLY MOUNTED ON THE FRAME FOR ROTATION ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS, HAVING A PLURALITY OF TIE SUPPORTING BARS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE HEAD SUBSTANTIALLY IN A PLANE GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION, THE OUTERMOST END OF THE SUPPORTING BARS EXTENDING UPWARDLY PREVENTING SLIPPAGE FROM THE BARS; MEANS FOR ATTACHING THE FRAME TO A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL WALL FOR POSITIONING THE AXIS OF ROTATION SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE WALL INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE LEG EXTENDING AWAY FROM THE FRAME A DISTANCE SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE WALL AND THE TIE SUPPORTING BARS; BATTERY DRIVEN MOTOR MEANS, IN THE CASING, FOR SELECTIVELY DRIVINGLY ROTATING THE TIE DISPLAYING HEAD FOR SEQUENTIALLY EXPOSING THE TIE SUPPORTING BARS ON ONE SIDE OF THE FRAME, AND SWITCH MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ENERGIZING AND DEENERGIZING SAID MOTOR. 